Lock and latch fittings.



No. 809,425. A

` PATBNTED JAN. 9, 1906. C. J. CALEY'. LOCK AND LATCH FITTINGS.

APTLIOATION FILED 00T.29,1904.

. ([a/ey S Chrom/nids man,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. CALEY, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO RUSSELL t ERWIN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, 1906.

Application filed October 29, 1904. Serial No. 230,459.

To alll whom, it may concern: Y

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. CALEY, a

citizen of the United States, residing at New Britain, in the county of Hartford, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and ness of the doors to which they are applied or 4 slight irregularities in the workmanship of assembling the parts.

This invention is an improvement in the subject-matter set forth in myformer patent,

No. 745,568, 0f December 1, 1903.

The principles 'of my invention are illustrated in the accompanying single sheet of drawings. The knobs and spindle are preferably of the screwless type, so that adjustments may be nicely eifected. The bearings are provided which support the knobs longitudinally as well as vertically and at the same time permit of compensationforv angular irregularities of assemblement. The parts may be adjusted without causing undue friction, owing to the antifriction devices provided and the yielding supports therefor.

Figure l is a front elevation and partial section of a fragment of a door with lock and latch iittings in place therein. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the antifriction ball race and retainer employed. Fig. 3 is a detail View of the bearing which cooperates with the member shown in Fig. 2. Figs. 4 and 5 are details of the yielding support or pressure device.

l indicates a fragment of the door.

2 indicates the face-plate of the lock and latch mechanism, the details of which are in no way concerned with this invention.

3 is the spindle, which is employed for operating the parts of the lock mechanism.

4 is a knob of any suitable construction. The parts of the knob and bearings are shown on each side of the door and numbered similarly, so that reference to but one side only need be had.

5 indicates an adjusting-sleeve for coupling the knob to the spindle.

Preferably the knob and spindle'construction is of what is known as the "screwless type; but the details thereof are immaterial, any suitabe form being satisfactory, so far as this invention is concerned.

6 indicates a thimble or rose-plate which affords a housing for parts of the bearing.

7 indicates an escutcheon-plate. It is obvious, however, that the thimble or roseplate might be attached directly to the door.

8 indicates one of a series of balls, preferably of hardened steel.

9 is the combined ball race and retainer, which is preferably formed of sheet-steel struck up substantialy as shown, so as to in- -close the balls throughout considerably more than half their diameters, leaving an opening facingoutward, but toward the axis of the spindle.

l0 is a bearing member which is adapted to rotate with the knob and spindle construction. This is formed, preferably, of hardened steel and shaped like the frustum of a cone. Preferably the surface is curved or arched, so that it will take an even bearing around on the series of balls even if the spindle is slfightly inclined out of the proper axis thereo errors in angular position of the hole which has been bored through the door, and conseluently the angular displacement of the spinle. The ball race and retainer 9, together with the series of balls and the bearing I0, constitute an antifriction device which greatly reduces the resistance to operation of the lock mechanism, and thus permits of the use of lighter springs therein.

l1 is a yielding support or backing for the antifriction device, which is preferably in the form of an integral plate having integral spring-arms, particularly as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This forces the ball-retainer outward and holds the parts of the antifriction device in their proper contact, permitting also slight tilting movement of the ball-retainer without causing the parts to bind or cram The inner wall of the thimble or rose-p ate is contracted slightly at the outer edge so as to se- In this way compensation is afforded for y IOO cure the ball race and retainer and prevent it from falling out when the knob is removed.

What I claim is- 1. In lock and latch iittings, the combination of a spindle, knobs, with an antifriction device for one of said knobs comprising a ball race and retainer, a series of balls carried thereby and a conical bearing carried by said spindle and affording a longitudinal as Well as vertical abutment.

2. A spindle-bearing comprising the combination of a plate forming a housing and support, a ball race and retainer, a series of balls carried therein, a knob-spindle and a conical bearing carried thereby and coacting with said balls for resisting longitudinal as Well as vertical movement of said spindle, substantially as described.

3. In a spindle-bearing, the combination of a housing, a series of balls, a knob-spindle and a bearing member carried thereby and adapted to rotate therewith. and having a conveXly-curved surface for permitting compensation for angular displacement.

4. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a thimble or rose-plate, a

ball race and retainer secured therein, a series of balls carried in said retainer, a spindle, a knob and a conical bearing member for coacting with said balls.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a rose-plate or thimble, a ball race and retainer secured therein, a series of balls in said retainer, a yielding support for said retainer, a knob and a conical bearing for coacting with said parts for the purpose specified.

6. In a device of the character described, the combinati'on of a rose-plate or thimble, a

ball race and retainer secured therein, a 4o yielding support therefor, a series of balls in said retainer, a knob and a conical bearing having a curved surface for compensation, substantially as described.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a spindle having a threaded portion on one end, a housing, a series of antifrietion-balls located therein, a bearing carried by said spindle, and a knob and coupling ailording means of connection with said threaded portion of said spindle, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

8. In lock and latch mechanism, the comnation of a thimble or rose-plate, a ball race and retainer arranged therein, a series of balls carried by said retainer, a knob, a spindle connected thereto, a conical bearing arranged to coact with said balls and affording a longitudinal as Well as vertical abutment for said knob.

9. As an article of manufacture, a lock and latch fitting, comprising, a thimble or roseplate adapted to be secured to a door and having a vertical inner shoulder, a combined ball race and retainer secured in said thimble or rose-plate, a series ol" balls contained therein but exposed outwardly and toward the axis for cooperation With a conical bearing, and a spring arranged between said shoulder and said combined retainer and ball-race, affording a yielding abutment therefor.

Signed at New Britain, Connecticut, this 27th day of October, 1904.

CHAS. J. CALEY.

litnesses G. E. Roor, L, B. MALLORY. 

